labor day

My freshmen used to read Joyce Maynard's novel The Usual Rules and I invited her to speak to them a year ago. She is a great writer, a gifted storyteller, and she has a quirky side that's quite interesting. After her visit, I read her memoir At Home in the World, which tells the story of her year-long relationship with J.D. Salinger. It was a page-turning to say the least.

So, when I received an email from Joyce Maynard this fall asking me to pick up her new book, I immediately ordered a copy. It took me a couple months to get to it but I did finally read it over the last couple days. Easy read. Bizarre storyline. Single mom and 13-year-old boy invite an escaped convict to come home with them and mom falls in love with him. It all takes place over Labor Day weekend.

I didn't love the book but didn't hate it. It just doesn't have the real substance I look for in a book. No wow factor.